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The City Council

Sacramento City Charter art. III
in effect

Sacramento City Charter § 20 Powers.

§ 20 Powers. All powers of the city shall be vested in the city council except as otherwise provided in this Charter.

Sacramento City Charter § 21 Composition.

§ 21 Composition. The legislative body or the city shall be a city council of nine members, consisting of the mayor and eight other members. Each council member other than the mayor shall be nominated and elected by the electors of the district in which such person resides as provided in Article X.

Sacramento City Charter § 22 Districts.

§ 22 Districts. The City is hereby divided into eight council districts, designated Districts 1 through 8, respectively. Council districts in existence on the effective date of this Charter amendment shall continue to exist until altered as provided in Article XII. The title of the office of each member of the council other than the mayor shall bear the number accorded the council district of such member. (Amended by Res. 2016-0258, 7/26/16)

Sacramento City Charter § 26 Terms of office.

§ 26 Terms of office. Each member of the city council other than the mayor shall serve for a term of four years and until a successor qualifies.

Sacramento City Charter § 27 Qualifications of members.

§ 27 Qualifications of members. Each member of the council or candidate therefor, other than for the office of mayor, at the date of candidacy and election or appointment, shall be an elector and a resident in such member's council district for not less than 30 days preceding the date of candidacy and election or appointment, as the case may be, and must continue to reside in such council district during the term of office, except that no boundary change under Article XII shall disqualify a member from serving the remainder of the term. The term "elector" means a person who qualifies to vote at either a state election or federal election held in the State of California. "Date of candidacy" means the date of filing nominating papers or equivalent declaration of candidacy. (Amended by Res. 2016-0258, 7/26/16)

Sacramento City Charter § 28 Vacancies.

§ 28 Vacancies. A vacancy on the city council other than the office of the mayor shall be filled by special election to be called by the council as provided in Section 154 of this Charter, unless such vacancy occurs within one year of the next general election at which such office would normally be filled, in which case the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the remaining members of the council. A person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of the former incumbent. Absence from five consecutive regular meetings of the city council, unless excused by resolution of the council, shall operate to vacate the seat of the mayor or council member so absent.

Sacramento City Charter § 29 Compensation.

§ 29 Compensation. There shall be established a compensation commission whose function shall be to establish the compensation for the mayor, members of the city council, and public members of city boards and commissions. The commission shall be comprised of five members selected pursuant to Section 230 of Article XV of this Charter for staggered four-year terms. The chair of the commission shall be a retired judicial officer and all members shall be residents of the City of Sacramento. The commission shall meet at least once a year and shall serve without compensation. The city shall fund the expenses of the commission. Within one hundred eighty (180) days of passage of this measure, the commission shall set the compensation for the mayor and members of the city council. Compensation shall be reasonable and consistent with other cities similar in size and structure.

Sacramento City Charter § 30 Rules, quorum and voting.

§ 30 Rules, quorum and voting. (a) The city council shall determine its rules of procedure according to rules which it shall adopt. (b) A majority of the members of the council then in office shall constitute a quorum, except that a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and may compel attendance or absent members in a manner provided by ordinance or resolution. (c) The city council shall act only by ordinance, resolution or motion. Except as otherwise provided in the Charter the affirmative vote of five council members or the council shall be necessary to pass any ordinance, resolution or motion. The council shall be a continuing body and no measure pending before such body shall abate or be discontinued by reason of the expiration of the term of office or removal of the members of said body or any of them.

Sacramento City Charter § 31 Meetings.

§ 31 Meetings. The city council shall hold regular meetings and provide the time, place, and manner of holding its meetings, by annual resolution. A majority of regular council meetings shall be held after 5:00 p.m. All meetings of the council shall be open to the public, except as permitted by state law. (Amended by Res. 2018-0317, 7/31/18)

Sacramento City Charter § 32 Ordinances.

§ 32 Ordinances. (a) Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing. The enacting clause of each ordinance enacted by the council shall be "Be it Enacted by the Council of the City of Sacramento." The enacting clause of each ordinance enacted by the initiative or referendum process shall be "Be it Enacted by the People of the City of Sacramento." Each ordinance shall contain a title which shall state in general terms the subject or subjects contained in the ordinance. (b) Except as otherwise provided elsewhere in this Charter, and with the exception or ordinances which take effect immediately upon adoption, ordinances shall be adopted in compliance with either the procedure set forth in Subsection (c) or Subsection (d) of this section. (c) The ordinance shall be first passed by the council for publication of title. At least six days shall elapse between the date the ordinance was passed for publication of title and the date it is adopted by the council. The title of the ordinance shall be published by printing said title in a newspaper of general circulation published within the City designated by the council as the official newspaper of the City, no later than the third day immediately preceding the date of the adoption of the ordinance. No part of any ordinance, or proposed ordinance, other than its title, need be published. (d) In lieu of the procedure set forth in Subsection (c) of this section, ordinances shall be published in the official newspaper of the City within ten days after adoption by the council. (e) Ordinances which take effect immediately upon adoption, may be adopted without compliance with Subsections (b), (c) or (d) of this section. (f) Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, each adopted ordinance shall become effective at the expiration of thirty (30) days after adoption or at any later date specified therein. (g) The following ordinances shall take effect immediately upon adoption or at such later dates, of less than thirty (30) days after adoption, as may be specified in the ordinances: (1) An ordinance calling for or otherwise relating to an election; (2) An ordinance adopted as and declared by the city council to be an emergency measure, containing a statement of the facts constituting such emergency, if adopted by the affirmative votes of at least six members of the council; provided, that no measure making a grant, renewal or extension of a franchise or other special privilege or regulating the rate to be charged for its service by a public utility, other than one operated by the city, may be so enacted; and (3) An ordinance adopted pursuant to a state law by virtue or which such ordinance shall be effective immediately. (h) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to require an ordinance when an ordinance is not otherwise required. (Adopted November 4, 1980)

Sacramento City Charter § 33 Records.

§ 33 Records. The city council shall require the city clerk to keep a permanent public record of its proceedings showing all action considered and taken, motions and records, the text of ordinances and resolutions introduced or adopted and all amendments thereto proposed or adopted, and the vote of each council member regarding any matter before the city council or any committee thereof.

Sacramento City Charter § 34 Investigations.

§ 34 Investigations. The city council or any duly appointed committee of the members of the council may make investigations into the affairs of the city government and the conduct of any department, office, agency, officer or employee thereof, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and require the production of evidence. Any person who fails to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the city council or a committee of the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, in such amount and for such time as prescribed by state law for misdemeanors.

Sacramento City Charter § 35 Limitation on future employment.

§ 35 Limitation on future employment. No member of the council during the term for which such person shall have been elected or appointed or for one year after such person ceases to hold office, shall be eligible for any appointive office or position in the city, carrying compensation, and created by this Charter, by ordinance or by resolution. An elective office which has been filled by appointment by reason of a vacancy in that office shall not be considered an appointive office under this section.
Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-29Fetched: 10/24/2026

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